Sleeve puffing apparatus



Aug 23, 1955 J, E. HOLLIMAN ET AL 2,715,985

SLEEVE PUF'F ING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1953 Roy D. BROOKS INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY United States Patent O anaass SLEEVE PUFrrNG APPARATUS James E. Holiman and Roy D. Brooks, Henderson, Tex.,

assignors of one-third to 3. A. Rcuntree, Henderson, Tex.

Application February 5, 1953, Serial No. 335,362

4 Claims. (Ci. 223-73) This invention relates to a devicefor tinishing the sleeves and other tubular portions of fabric garments.

In the nishing of the sleeves or other fabric garments, it is desirable to minimize the handling of the garments both to accelerate the finishing process and also to prevent wrinkling of previously finished portions of the garment. It is desirable, therefore, to provide a device for iinishing such tubular portions of garments which is easily portable so that the operator may move along a finishing line on which a plurality of garments are hung on the usual hangers and finish the sleeves and other tubular portions of the garments without removing the garments from the hangers.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a new and improved device for finishing tubular portions of fabric garments.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved portable device, of the type described, which may be carried from one garment to the next and inserted in the tubular portions thereof.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of the type described which is supplied with steam through a fiexible hose or conduit.

A stiil further object of the invention is to provide a finishing device for tubular portions of garments which is light in Weight and of simple durable construction.

With the foregoing objects in View, the invention has further reference to certain features of accomplishment which will become apparent as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation of a preferred form of the device with some portions broken away, for finishing tubular portions of fabric garments;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, of another form of the device shown in Figures l and 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 3.

Referring now especially to Figures l and 2 of the drawing, the device for refinishing sleeves and other tubular portions of fabric garments includes a substantially U-shaped rigid pipe 11 or conduit having parallel straight portions 12 and 13, and a bight 14. The ends of the conduit remote from the bight 14 are converged and are secured to a hollow fitting or coupling 15. The straight portions 12 and 13 and the bight 14 are provided with a plurality of perforations 16 through which steam may pass.

An elongate pad cover 17 made of steam permeable material extends about and covers the perforate pipe and is in turn covered by a steam bag 18. The open end portions of the pad cover and steam bag are disposed adjacent the couping and are rmly secured thereto by any suitable screw clamp 19. The clamp is fice ' disposed between the convergent end portions of the perforate conduit 11 and the outwardly extending ange 20 integral with the coupling 15 so that the open ends of the pad cover and the steam bag are held against longi- Y tudinal displacement of the coupling 15.

I t perforate conduit through the coupling 15.

The coupling 15 is connected to, as by threads, the outlet 21 of a steam gun or valve 22 having a pistol grip 23 and an actuating lever 24. A exible hose or conduit 25 has opposite ends firmly connected to the i, inlet 26 of the steam gun or valve 22 and the outlet 27 of a valve 28 on the steam tank 29 which controls the flow of steam from the steam tank into the flexible conduit. The flexible conduit 25 may be secured to the steam gun or valve 22 and the valve 28 by means of screw clamps 30.

The steam tank is provided with an inlet 31 controlled by a valve 32 and an outlet 33 having a steam trap 34. A faucet or bleed cock is provided adjacent the bottom of the tank to permit condensed water to be drained from the interior of the tank.

In use, the valve 32 is opened to permit steam to enter the steam tank 29 through the inlet 31 from any suitable source of steam, such as a boiler. The outlet 33 and steam trap 34 which are disposed substantially below the inlet, permit the cooler, more moist steam which settles to the 'c lower portions of the tank to escape so that a continuous supply of relatively hot dry steam continuously flows into the tank. The valve 28 is then opened and permits the hot dry steam in the upper part of the tank to pass into the flexible conduit to the steam gun or valve 22.

The operator holds the steam gun in one hand by its pistol handle 23 and seizes the sleeve of a garment hung on a hanger on a inishing line. The operator then inserts the perforated conduit 11 into the sleeve and squeezes the operating lever 24 of the steam gun so that steam is admitted to the perforated conduit from the steam tank or chamber 29. The steam issuing from the perforations 16 in the conduit 11 expands the pad cover 17 and passes through it to expand the steam bag 18. The sleeve is thus expanded by the steam bag and at the same time is treated with steam which penetrates outwardly through the steam bag. The operator then releases the actuating lever 24, the steam bag and the pad cover collapse back on the perforated conduit and the perforated conduit is easily Withdrawn from the sleeve. The operator can then pass along to the other sleeve of the garment and subject it to the same treatment or he may treat a sleeve of the next garment hanging on the finishing line. The light Weight of the perforated conduit and the pad cover and steam bag enable the operator to easily handle the device. The flexible hose or conduit 25 enables the operator to move along the finishing line and treat the garments without taking them off the finishing line.

The hose 25 may be provided with a hanger having one or more hooks 36 by means of which it can be supported on fixed structures so that the operator does not have to drag the hose on the ground or support its full weight.

It will be seen now that a new and improved device for treating tubular portions of garments has been described which includes a pad cover 17 and a steam bag 18 which are expansible by steam issuing from the apertures 16 in the perforated conduit 11 to expand sleeves and the like to remove wrinkles therein and at the same time treat the sleeves with steam. It will also be seen that the device is readily portable so that the garments do not have to be handled or brought to the device.

In Figures 3 to 5 is shown a modied form of the finish- Y the lugs 44 .or 47 extend.-

ing device wher-ein thesteam gun or valve 22 's employed to transmit steam to a T-coupling 37.H v A slightly arcuate conduit 38 is connected to one outlet 39 of the T-coupling while a second conduit 40 is connected to the other outlet 41 of the Tacoupling through a -llexible hose or conduit 4 2. Each of the conduits 'has a plurality Yof perforatiOrls 43 through which steam may 'escape fromV the-interiors,

of the perforatedk conduits.

The conduit 38 has Vtwo pairs of lugs 44 tov each pair offwhich one end of a link 45 iis pivotally connecteckas by bol-ts 46. The conduit 40 is `similarly provided with two pairs of lugs 47510 each pai-r of which oneendV of aV Y. lingk 4 8 is p ivotally connected, Vas by lbolts 49,

The front links 45 and V48 are -pivotally connectedby means fof a bolt S0 which also rotatablyrsupp'ortsa pulley Y ing lever and to said connecting means whereby said per- 51;.y The back links 45 and 48-are pivotally .connected Y by means-of a bolt 52, One end of -a line or cable 53 is connected to the bolt 52 and passes around the pulley 51 and through a guide loop 54 to ythe operating lever V24 .of the steam gun, theother end of the line or, cable S3 being Y securedto `tlileoperating lever .24.

It will be seen that when the operating lever is squeezed, the line serves to draw 4the'v bolts 46 Vand 52 toward one another causing the links to pivotabout their ends to cause the conduits 3 8 and V40 to move apart.V Each pair Y of` links 46 and-48 is connected by'a spring 55 which biases" each pair of links 46 and 48 toward one another so that when the operating lever 24 is released, the Yperforated Y conduits 38l and40 will move toward one another.

VEach ofthe perforated conduitsY is coveredrby a pad cover V56 and a steam bag 57 which are Vsecured thereon Vby screw clamps 5'8. The pad v.covers `and steam bags areV provided, of course, with suitable apertures `through which t The yform of the iinishing device illustrated Figures 3 to 5 is especially adapted .for use on .tubular portionsl ofheavy garments such as overcoats. 4It'wil'l be apparent.

that when the perforated conduits are inthe retracted positions shown jin Figure 3, they are'easily inserted in Ythe sleeveV of a coat or'other garment. When the operating lever 24 of the steam gun 22 is squeezed, the line 53 isV 'pulled'and the yperforated conduitsk are moved away from one another into expanded position againstvthe nterior surfaces .of the sleeve.VVV At the same time, Vthe steam gun admits steam into the perforated conduits which eX- pands the cover pads and steam bags. The sleeve is thus smoothed of wrinkles and is simultaneously treated with steam. Y When the operating lever; 24-is released, the

springs 55 draw-the perforated conduits toward each other ,into retracted Ypositions and at the same time theow of f' steam into the perforated conduits is stopped. The ,device can then be easily withdrawn from the sleeve.

Manifestly, the construction as shown` and described is capable of Vsome modification and such'rnodication as maybe construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be Within the I spirit and intent of theinvention.

y Y What is claimed is:

1. Apgrtabie device for anishing tubular portions efY garments'comprising a pair of substantially parallel elongate conduits; spaced apart pairs of relatively pivoted links connecting said conduitsior movement toward and away from one another; means connectedbetween the links of ,each pair for biasing said conduits toward one another; a 'steam bag embracing ,each of said conduits, said conduits eachV having a plurality of perforations whereby said steam bags Vare expansible by steaxrr'e'scapingV through Vsaid perforations; a steam valverconnected to said conduits for admitting steam, to said conduits having Vanoperating lever; and means connected to said operatbetween the links of said pairs for biasing said conduitsV toward one another; a steam bag on each of said conduits,

said conduits each having a plurality of perforations` whereby said steam bags are expansible by steam escaping through said perforations; a steam valve connected to said conduits for admitting steam to said Vconduits and havingV an operating lever; a flexible line connected at one end to said operating lever and to the pivotal points of the links of each pair to effect movement `of said perforated conduits away from each other when steam is admitted thereto by said steam valve; said steam bags being expansible by steam tlowing from said conduit through said perforations. Y

3. A portable device for gate conduits; a plurality of pairs of links connecting said conduits for movement toward and .away from one an'- other the links ofl each pair having adjacent ends pivoted together and their opposite ends pivoted to respective conduits; means connected between the links of each pairl` for biasing said conduits toward oneanother; a steamV bag on each of said conduits; a pad cover interposed between each perforated conduit and its steam bag, 'said conduits each having a plurality of perforations whereby said steam bags are expansible byY steam escaping through said pertorations; a steam valve connected-to said co'nduits and for admitting steam to said conduits having Van operating l lever; and flexible Vmeans connected to 'saidPV operating lever andito said pairs of links whereby said perforated `conduits are'moved away from each otherY I when steam is admitted thereto by said steam 'valvefsrid steam bags being expansible-by steam lflo'wingfrom said conduit through said perforations.

4. A portable device for finishing Vtubular `portionsrof garments comprising a pair of curved elongate `conduits;

' in substantial parallelism, pivoted links connecting'sa'id conduits for movement toward and away from oneanf' other; spring means connected to said'linksV for, biasing said'conduits toward one another; a steam bag o'nfeach: of said conduits; a pad cover interposed between each Y perforated conduitV and its .steam baggsaid conduits each having a plurality of perforations whereby saidrst'eam bagsVV Y areexpansible by steam escaping throughrsaidV perforations; a steam valve connected to said cond-its'for admtting steam to Vsaid conduits said valve having :an-operating lever; and liexible means connected betweenV said Voperatingtlcver and said links `whereby said perforated conduits are moved away from each other when steamis,`

admittedthereto by S'zflidsteam.valve;` said Vstear bag being expansible by-steam iiowing through said perforatio'ns.

References vCited in the'le of this patent` UNITED STATES VPATE'ISA Y 2,342,937 Y Hanson i -t Feb; 2'9, 1944i 2,421,203V Johnson -V' Y May 2.7, l'947 2,487,657 Larson et al. Nov. 8x, 1949 2,619,821 Fink A.. Dec. 2M, 19,52'

Glover ug. l0,

finishing tubular portions of. garmentsrcomprising a -pair of substantially parallel elon-` from -saidconduit i 

